easy kids shorts pattern

I’ll say right up front, this isn’t an original idea. There are lots of tutorials on the web on how to make kids pants, like here and here. There’s also a cool how-to in The Creative Family.

I also need to note that my daughter really doesn’t need any more pants. She has plenty, and it’s too hot to wear them now anyway. So, I did the next best thing. I made her shorts! (Shhh… she has plenty of shorts, too. I just really wanted to sew these and was looking for an excuse!)

They turned out nice. The t-shirt fabric is from one of my old Gap shirts that has a little stretch to it. I didn’t make them too snug, and hopefully they’ll last through the rest of the season.

I used a pair of her shorts as my pattern and traced them onto paper first. The template fits on an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, so I figured why not share it with the blog world? You can download it here.

Drop me a line and let me know if you make a pair. I’d love to see a photo if you do! Also, this is my first attempt at writing a sewing pattern. Please let me know if something isn’t clear!

This may be a good use for all the leftover sleeves I have from making my daughter sleeveless dresses and nightgowns out of t-shirts. Hmm… I bet you could basically sew two sleeves together. Must take this to the lab and see what I can do. Thanks for the inspiration! :)

Oh my goodness. I wasn’t going to comment on this pattern because I am looking for a way to make shorts for my son, and I’ve found quite a few patterns. But then as I scrolled to the top of the page to see what the name of the blog was I realized “who” you were! :) I read Lauren’s Blog(Stay Classy) and have visited your blog a few times when she’s mentioned you guys! Just had to say hi! I’m another Nebraska mom, although we don’t live in Lincoln! I had a giveaway this time last year and Lauren won a flag wall hanging in it! Anywho! Enough rambling! Just wanted to say HI and how I found your website! (BTW: it was through Google Search on Free Shorts Pattern for Children!)

I want to make these shorts but not for a toddler,
could you post any other pictures of her wearing the shorts? i cannot see the fit clearly based on the picture – they look very different on her than in the other picture of the shorts
thanks